Anchoring screw device

ABSTRACT

The present invention, the ASD, is a mechanical device for anchoring hollow tube-like structures in the human body, such as blood vessels, bowels and ureters. It facilitates positioning needles or catheters in blood vessels and it prevents those from dropping out of the vessel or from “wandering off” in the vessel. The ASD can be used in every interventional medical situation for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The ASD is very easy to fix onto the vessel wall. Screwing is a fast technique saving operating time and requiring only basic microsurgical skills. The manufacturing is easy. It should be understood that the foregoing is illustrative and not limiting, and that modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention.

This invention relates to anchoring a SCREW-DEVICE onto a tube-like structure, for example a blood vessel, in such a way (1) that a needle or a catheter can be passed safely into the hollow structure and (2) that this needle or catheter can be positioned firmly in the vessel so that it cannot slip out or be displaced (i.e. be carried away by the fluid in the vessel).

BACKGROUND ART

In many interventional medical procedures we want to reach hollow structures like a blood vessel or a ureter. During these procedures we want to place a catheter or a needle into the hollow structure to have access to it, mostly for therapeutic reasons such as the administration of medication, the placing of a stent or a coil, dilatation and so one. Sometimes access to the aforementioned hollow structures is necessary for diagnostic purposes.

The firm and stable fixation of a catheter into the wall of a hollow structure is essential since the catheter should under no circumstances fall out of the vessel or ‘wander off’ into the vessel. In the human body some hollow structure are embedded in surrounding tissue which enables the catheter to stay in place. This is the case for example with the blood vessels in a limb. It is completely different in the thorax, skull, or abdomen, where hollow structure are surrounded by less connective tissue and a catheter can easy slip out or be displaced. To prevent this, the catheter has to be fixated by suturing it to the wall of the vessel, but this is difficult and time consuming.

The present invention, the ASD, can easily be screwed onto the vessel-wall, where it gives a maximum stability and support for the catheter, which can then safely be inserted into the vessel.

Interventional fields include diagnostic procedures that involve the implantation of a catheter or needle; and therapeutic procedures that involve interventions (such as placing a catheter for medication) or that involve surgical operations, laparascopy, possibly in combination with endoscopic procedures.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention makes it possible to anchor a hollow structure, like a blood vessel, easily and quickly. More specifically, the ASD allows the physician dealing with medical intervention to make a stable and safe connection with a hollow structure in such a way that a catheter can be firmly positioned without any need for time consuming suturing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ASD INVENTION

1. The ASD takes the form of a hollow screw, with an ending that is not—as in the regular screw—a point, but one full spiral winding (360 degrees). The end of the winding is sharp and round, i.e. it is non-cutting but it is capable of perforating the wall of the hollow tube-like structure in which it is screwed. The sharp, round point is bent inwardly and downwardlly in an angle of 10 to 20 degrees (α) (see FIG. 1 a), Alternatively, this sharp, round, non-cutting point may bend downwardly in an angle of 90 degrees (α) (see FIG. 1 b). In this case, the end resembles a cork-screw, but the end is not situated in the middle of the final winding but on the periphery.

2. The ASD the same as mentioned in 1 but with the body of the screw filled with thrombostatic or haemostatic material that functions as a sponge against leakage of the vessel after the catheter has been removed (see FIG. 2).

3. The ASD with removable head. This device consists of two basic parts: first, the removable head with applicator (i.e. a long, thin shaft with a handle used to drill the head into the vessel wall) and second, a hollow ASD with a hollow screw of three windings, which remains in place (i.e. in the vessel wall).

The removable head consists of two windings, and ends in the form of a corck-screw (see FIGS. 3 a, 3 b). This is, again, a round, sharp, non-cutting point. The head forms one whole with the applicator. Once the head is in place (i.e. in the middle of the vessel wall) (see FIG. 3 c), it is removed, together with the applicator, from the rest of the ASD that stays within the vessel wall.

The second part is the body of the ASD. It consists of three hollow windings attached to the head by means of internal, anti-clockwise windings (see FIG. 3 d). Every winding is wider than the previous one, thus expanding the vessel wall. The opening in the wall is made by the head in a non-occlusive way, i.e. the receptor vessel need not be temporarily occluded.

Diameter

Depending on the sort of hollow structure, like a blood-vessel, the diameter of ASD may vary from 1 millimetre to 2 centimetre, or even more.

Substance

The ASD is made of inox material, or titanium, or super-elastic materials such as nitinol, or synthetic materials, or even resorbable materials.

Thickness of Material

Depending on the diameter of the blood-vessel, the material may vary from 0.1 mm to any desirable thickness.

Elasticity

Depending on the material.

Description of Application of the ASD.

The ASD is screwed one turn of 360 degrees into the receptor wall. This ensures a stable fixation on the wall. A needle or a catheter is then inserted through the ASD into the wall, and is fixed onto the ASD so that it cannot slip out of the vessel or ‘wander off’ into the vessel.

MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The SCREW-DEVICE can be manufactured commercially and be employed to anastomose two vessels of different or identical sizes. It can be used in all domains of vascular surgery, heart surgery, and neurosurgery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 a: ASD

FIG. 1 b: ASD onto the wall

FIG. 2: ASD filled with thrombostatic or haemostatic material

FIG. 3 a: ASD with removable head lateral view

FIG. 3 b: ASD with removable head top view

FIG. 3 c: ASD with removable head in situ view, position into the wall

FIG. 3 d: ASD with removable head, view of the way in which the removable head is attached to the boy of the ASD 

1. An apparatus for delivering materials into a blood vessel comprising a screw having a hollow section wherein the screw terminates with a single spiral winding, wherein the screw is capable of being fixed by screwing to a blood vessel, the apparatus further including a wall for securing a needle or catheter.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising haemostatic or thrombostatic materials within the hollow section.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including an applicator screwing the screw into the blood vessel.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the screw is formed from resorbable, non-resorbable, or super elastic materials.
 5. A method of introducing materials into a blood vessel comprising screwing a screw device having a hollow section into a wall of a blood vessel, introducing a needle or catheter through the screw and into the blood vessel and introducing a material into the blood vessel through the needle or catheter. 